HATTIESBURG – The University of Southern Mississippi Community Counseling and Assessment Clinic offers a free anger management program for adults who qualify for a grant-funded study.

The program is part of a study funded by the National Institutes of Health through the university’s Department of Psychology. Qualified participants who complete the study will be paid up to $100.

“Anger management is about learning how to reduce your emotional and physiological arousal, think in less anger-provoking ways and express yourself more effectively,” said Dr. Eric Dahlen, director of the clinic. “You won’t be able to change the things or the people that annoy you, but you can learn to control your reactions and respond more effectively.”

Ranging from minor annoyance to intense rage, anger is a common emotion experienced by all, Dahlen said. Anonymous surveys indicate that most people feel at least mildly angry several times a week. Anger can energize individuals to address injustices, assert themselves and solve problems. However, anger also can get out of control, fueling aggression and leading to problems with one’s health, relationships, occupational performance and overall quality of life.

Dahlen said anger has received less attention in the field of psychology than other adverse emotions such as anxiety and depression. Although little is known about how many people suffer from uncontrollable anger, mental health professionals are seeing increasing numbers of people with anger-related problems, fueling a growing interest in identifying the necessary ingredients of effective treatments.

Tests used to help determine problems with anger explore the intensity, frequency, duration of angry episodes, how someone expresses anger and the type of consequences anger has produced.

However, Dahlen said, many people who have an anger problem already realize it and may have the following characteristics:
- Feeling out of control
- Acting in ways that seem out of control or frightening
- Anger has a negative impact on important relationships, work or other roles
- Others have expressed concern about the person’s anger

In evaluating potential treatment providers, Dahlen recommends a person ask questions about the provider’s approach to anger management. The most effective approaches tend to focus on helping the development of relaxation skills, changing one’s thinking and learning to express anger in more appropriate ways. Anger management programs generally produce meaningful change in approximately eight to 12 weeks, Dahlen said.

Anger management services are widely available in the Hattiesburg area. Participants for this program must be at least 18 years of age.

For more information, log on to www.usm.edu/counselingpsy/Clinic/anger.html or call the Community Counseling and Assessment Clinic at 601.266.4601.

About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering individuals to transform lives and communities.  In a tradition of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world.  Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss., with an additional campus and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; further information is found at www.usm.edu.